Get to know James Dunbar

Meet our new Business Partnership Manager for the South Island

James Dunbar has joined us as the Business Partnership Manager for the South Island. Working out of the Christchurch office, James will be responsible for supporting with Independent Financial Advisers from Mid Canterbury to Invercargill. 

Read on to find out why James is excited to be stepping into this role.

Where have you joined us from? 

I spent nearly six years with the Mainfreight Group, predominantly in a Business Development/Account Management capacity. I loved the relationship management side of the role, and I’m excited that this will be a core part of my role at Chubb Life too.

What are your first impressions of the job?

Very good, I’m loving it. I’m thrilled to be working with an extremely friendly and welcoming team. There’s been lots of information to digest, but so far so good. 

 I’ve already been out on the road and I’m fortunate to have a great panel of Advisers. 

The further south you go in New Zealand, the better the people.

In your view, why is Chubb Life a great company to work for?

Chubb’s global presence, reputation, and recent growth in the New Zealand market make it a very exciting business to be part of. This, in tandem with the great culture and fantastic team members and Advisers I’ve met so far, makes me really excited to get stuck into the job. 

You have an important role to build key relationships with Advisers. What excites you about this?

My previous role was all about maintaining important business relationships, and I’m so excited to apply the skillset that I learnt and refined at Mainfreight in this new industry. 

I’m especially excited to develop long-term partnerships that help Advisers grow their businesses in a way that benefits customers, whilse strengthening our presence in the market. 

The best business relationships are built on trust, so I’m looking forward to working closely with Advisers to understand everyone’s unique needs and objectives.

Advisers play such a pivotal role in their communities by ensuring their customers are sufficiently protected. This builds community resilience as a whole and I think it’s awesome to be able to work alongside Advisers to contribute to this. 

Why is life insurance important to you?

Life insurance has a meaningful effect on people’s lives. It provides security and peace of mind when people need it the most. Being in a role that helps fellow New Zealanders access this level of support and security is something I find very rewarding. 

What do you like to do outside of work?

I absolutely love playing and watching all kinds of sport. However these days I’m very much a social sport battler. I also love my skiing and even did a ski season living in the French Alps. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Having the ability to fly would be quite handy.

What are you most looking forward to over the Summer break?

I’m looking forward to catching up with friends and family, throwing a BBQ or two, watching some test cricket and heading out fishing.